Discover the Past: "The Boone's Lick Road"

Join us in Celebrating America 250 as historian and writer Dorris Keeven-Franke tells the story of the Boone's Lick Road, Missouri's first major road. Named for a salt spring or "lick" discovered by Daniel Boone's sons Nathan and Daniel Morgan in Howard County, the road contributed greatly to Missouri's early development. Starting on St.Charles Main Street and continuing for more than 100 miles before ending at the Missouri River town of Franklin, near Arrow Rock. The “Big Road,” as it was called by early travelers, soon became the route used to reach the Boone’s Lick region, the Santa Fe Trail, and points further west. About the presenter: Dorris Keeven-Franke loves to share the more difficult stories that help us understand our history and who we are today. She has been writing those stories and sharing her programs everywhere for nearly thirty years. An award-winning author, she is also a professional genealogist, archivist, and public historian. Dorris spends her time volunteering at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum and is involved in several local history organizations and Civil War Roundtables. The Federal Republic of Germany has awarded her the German-American Friendship Award in recognition of her efforts in fostering a sustained relationship between Germany and the U.S. She is actively involved with the NPS National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom by documenting the stories of freedom seekers, and she has won several awards from local organizations for her efforts.